Itchy legs at night, with or with no rash can point to a serious underlying health problem, or simply an ailment that can be corrected easily at home. Diabetes, thyroid disease, allergy or bed bug bites can all cause severe itching legs at night. The lower legs, shins and feet may be affected. Here are the causes and remedies.

An itchy skin on legs or any other part of the body is “an irritating and uncontrollable sensation that makes you want to scratch to relieve the feeling.” The causes can range from internal illnesses to topical skin ailments. But what about an itchy skin on legs at night?

The itching may or may not have a rash.

Why do legs itch at night? Causes

Most of the things can lead to itchy legs at night. Itchiness is the skin’s way of letting a person know and understand that some kind of irritant is there, but irritants might range from a minor hygiene issues to fungal or even bacterial infections.

When trying to identify the cause of skin irritation it is vital to distinguish between itching, and tingling. Itching might have several number of causes. Pain can be because of an injury, and the tingling can be a neurological condition.

Below are some of the major reasons of having itchy legs at night. If the itchiness is much persistent, then you should consult a physician.

1. Dry Skin on legs

Dry skin on legs will leave your skin irritated, making it itchy.

Dry skin is normally itchy but it is a temporary discomfort.

Dry skin is very itchy. Usually, dry skin might be controlled through the environmental factors. It is normally temporary and also appears in response to a dry and hot environment. Severely dry skin is usually divided into a series of an inherited disorders known as ichthyosis.

Causes:

Skin becomes very dry when it loses the natural oils. Very-frequent showering and the excessive use of soap might bring this condition on. Other common causes are the dehydration, dry weather, cold weather and also heating systems, and laundry soaps that have perfumes or dyes.

There are also inherited conditions, which includes hypothyroidism which can cause very dry skin. As we get older, the skin becomes dryer, so the itchiness is a very common problem for the older people.

Treatment and prevention

Creams that have lactic acid and also urea as well as the ointments that have petroleum jelly, used immediately after bathing, will assist the skin toretain moisture

Limiting baths as well as the showers, as well as application of soap, may prevent dryness

A humidifier to add the moisture to a dry room

Detergents without perfumes or even dyes

Wearing of the gentle fabrics, including silk and also the cotton

Hydrate. Drinking enough fluid (excreting at least 200 ml of the clear urine in the morning might be considered as an indication of good hydration).

Avoid any form of direct wind and sun exposure.

2. Itchy legs at night due to chicken Skin (Goose Bumps)

Chicken skin appears as rough bumps on skin, usually on arms, legs, armpits and even knees. Here’s how to get rid of chicken skin fast.

These are not the same goose bumps that people have when they are feeling cold. With the rash, the hair follicles that are on the thighs, or elsewhere on the skin thicken and then develop into itchy bumps. The condition, medically called keratosis pilaris, appears as if goose bumps are skin-, red-, or even brown-colored.

Cause: Keratosis pilaris is usually a build-up of keratin. It is also a hereditary condition but normally disappears by the age of 40.

Treatment and prevention

Keratosis pilaris bumps might be treated so that they disappear, but they always reappear. Dryness may worsen the condition.

Creams that have alpha-hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, or even urea may assist by both moisturizing the skin as well as loosening the dead skin cells to assist clear hair follicles.

3. Folliculitis

With folliculitis, the hair follicles that are found on the skin become infected. These leads to bumps that are usually red and itchy legs at night. They may also be much painful and may be filled with pus. Normally they appear on the thighs or even buttocks, often in athletes who wear tight sportswear.

Cause: This rash is normally brought about by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (staph infection).

Treatment and prevention

With very proper hygiene, the bumps should heal on their own within a few days.

If the rash continues, over-the-counter anti-bacterial soaps or even ointment (that have the antibiotic mupirocin) can help.

For the widespread infections, oral antibiotics can be the most effective treatment.

4. Itchy legs at night due to unfit runners

When we take a very long break from an exercise and then go for a run, then we can notice intense itchiness in the legs and abdomen. This condition is known as “runner’s itch” and normally affects the thighs and the calves the most.

Cause: Runner’s itch happens when the arteries and also the capillaries have collapsed because of inactivity and then re-open when we exercise. The blood vessels that are opening up may irritate the nerves that are adjacent to the capillaries.

Treatment and prevention

The condition can dissipate with training.

5. Acne on legs

People who are prone to acne can get it on legs too.

Acne vulgaris, might also appear on the thighs or even the buttocks.

Acne is a cluster of pimples that is accompanied with occasional whiteheads or even blackheads. They may appear on the thighs or the buttocks and may or may not be itchy.

Cause: Acne may happen because of poor hygiene, or inappropriate diet.

Treatment and prevention

Increasing the exercise and also water intake and also avoiding fatty foods can help get rid of acne.

6. Cholinergic Urticaria (Hives)

Cholinergic urticaria is a bumpy rash on the thighs, the legs or arms and might be triggered by a range of several events or activities. Normally brought on by sweating, hives may appear after exercise, bathing, or even emotional reactions like excitement, laughter and also stress.

The rash can appear a few minutes after the start of a run or even shortly after a very hot shower, and can be intensely itchy for 60 minutes.

Cause: Hives are said to be caused by an allergy to an individual’s own sweat.

Treatment and prevention

Avoid running in very hot weather and also stop running when the itchiness appears. If possible, do not try to scratch. Scratching normally aggravates itching. Oral antihistamines, taking at least 45 minutes before a shower or exercise, can prevent hives.

7. Itchiness after showering

If the skin loses a lot of its natural lubrication during the bathing, it can become itchy and also tight.

Causes: Too-frequent hot showers and also overuse of soaps that gets rid of the protective skin fat and oils.

Treatment and prevention

Try showering using lukewarm water instead of a hot water. Use soap very sparingly.

8. Itchy legs at night due to jock Itch

Jock itch, also called tinea cruris, is a fungal infection of the skin. Most often the condition affects the inner thighs, or buttocks. Jock itch appears as a very extensive red or brown itchy rash.

Cause: Moisture as well as warmth encourage the growth of the fungus.

Treatment and prevention

Antifungal ointments or oral antifungal medications

Keeping groin dry (by wearing light and comfortable clothing) as well as washing using an antifungal soap

9. Itchy legs at night due to poor hygiene

When dried sweat and the dust remain on the skin, they are normally broken down by the bacteria and yeasts and may irritate the nerve endings of the skin. Heat and even rubbing by the trouser fabric and socks might aggravate this sensation.

Treatment and prevention

Bathe regularly. Try to make use of lukewarm water and also mild soaps, to avoid removing the protective fat layer from the skin.

10. Itchy Pants Syndrome

This fancy term also describes itchiness from wearing new, unwashed pants or even trousers.

Cause: Irritating substances in the unwashed fabric.

Treatment and prevention: Bathe and wash the clothing.

11. Eczema

Eczema is a group of conditions that leads to skin inflammation and also irritation. Nearly about 15 percent of infants are normally afflicted with eczema but most outgrow it by their nineth birthday.

Causes: It is unclear what leads to eczema, but it is said to be an overactive immune response to irritants.

Treatment and prevention

Untreated, an itchy eczema rash can become infected. Lotions and the creams, used when the skin is moist, may assist the skin to retain moisture. Cold compresses also relieve the itching. Hydrocortisone (1%) cream, or even prescription creams and the ointments that have steroids, can also be prescribed to reduce inflammation.

12. Itchy legs at night due to stasis eczema

Stasis (gravitational) eczema appears as rough, reddish, swollen, itchy skin on the lower legs. It is most common in the cases where there are circulatory problems, including the varicose veins, vein thrombosis, or other blood vessel-related disorders.

Causes: Inflammation that emanates from circulatory disorders allow for the fluid build-up. Fluid leaks out of the veins into other tissues, leading to itching and irritation.

Treatment and prevention

Corticosteroids, including hydrocortisone, might assist to treat the rash.

Wearing compression stockings and also avoiding standing can assist to prevent this condition.

13. Other causes of itchy legs at night

Itching legs can be a sign of diabetes, allergic reactions or thyroid problems.

Allergies of any kind can lead to itchy legs at night. Typical symptoms are bumpy or even patchy red swollen rash (hives) or rough, scaly rash (eczema that is in contact allergies).

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a little-understood neurological disorder that usually strikes more women than the men. The sensation is a tingling more than an itching that also creates an urge to move the legs. The sensation comes on when the legs are at rest, more especially at night, and can make the sleep difficult for some.

Diabetes

People who have diabetes are much susceptible to the fungal infections, especially one called Candida albicans. This yeast-like fungus creates a red, itchy rash, which is frequently surrounded by very small blisters and also the scales, that is normally found in warm, moist areas like the armpits or even between the toes.

Other fungal infections that is common to diabetics are the ringworm, athlete’s foot, and vaginal yeast infections.

Itchy legs at night (pruritus) due to liver problems. This is a very common symptom, but does not always happen. It is sometimes much severe and distressing with the whole skin feeling very itchy. The reason for the itch is not always known. It can be because of a chemical from the bile, which builds up in the bloodstream.

During anxiety, the skin (or any other parts thereof) feels like it is burning or itching even though there isn’t any visible cause for it to be burning or itching, like the burn marks or dry, cracked, flaky, or broken skin.

The skin may be burning much that it feels like a sunburn even though you haven’t been in the sun. And sometimes you can scratch, even to the point of injuring the skin, yet the skin is still itching or very itchy.

Normally, the burning and itching skin feeling doesn’t have any visible reason for it to feel that way. It appears the skin is itching and burning for no given reason.

The burning itching skin sensation can happen anywhere on the body, like the hands, feet, back, neck, and scalp, to name a few.

This burning itching skin sensation may come and disappear rarely, happen frequently, or even persist indefinitely. For instance, you can have severe skin burning and also itching once and a while and not that often, or feel the burning and itching all the time.

Itching during pregnancy

Mild itchy legs at night is very common in pregnancy due to the increased blood supply to the skin. Later on, as the bump grows, the skin of the tummy is stretched and this can also feel itchy. Mild itching is normally nothing to worry about, but if the itching is severe, it might be an indication of a liver condition known as obstetric cholestasis.

This affects less than 1 in about 100 pregnant women, but requires medical attention.

Wearing of the loose clothes can help prevent itching, as the clothes are less likely to rub against the skin and lead to irritation. You may also want to avoid the synthetic materials and opt for the natural ones instead.

These are loose and allow the air to circulate close to the skin. You can find that having a cool bath or using lotion or moisturizer can assist to soothe the itching.

Some women find that products that have strong perfumes might irritate their skin, so you could try applying plain lotion or soap.

Mild itching is not normally harmful to you or the baby, but it may sometimes be a sign of a very serious condition. If you’re worried, or if you have experienced severe itching, it’s vital to see the midwife or a doctor.

Shaving is one of the fastest ways to enable a person obtain silky smooth legs. Unfortunately, it can also lead to red bumps, serious irritation and also unbearably itchy legs at night. If the legs itch after a shave, then you may have dry skin or a razor burn.

Resist the urge to scratch or treat the skin using an itch-relief product instead. Some natural products like aloe and oatmeal soothe the itching and commercial items or even medications do.

Bedbugs are not normally seen in the daytime. They come out at night when they are attracted by the warmth of the sleeping bodies and also the carbon dioxide that is in breath. The adults may live for up to 18 months.

They normally breed by laying eggs that hatch after around 10 days and take about 18 weeks to become adults. Females may lay around 200 eggs in their lifetime. Bedbugs require blood to develop but can stay alive for as long as a year without feeding.

Itchy legs at night no rash

Kidney failure is a condition that causes damage of the kidneys, normally from high blood pressure or even diabetes, causing the kidneys to stop working well. As the kidneys stop working as required, the body can develop acidosis where the blood becomes increasingly acidic.

Kidney failure is known to lead to itching on the skin that is not accompanied by a rash. You can also have a decreased immune function, weakness, an increased need to urinate and confusion.

Cholestasis is a disease of the liver that can develop in the later stages of the pregnancy. As this condition develops bile flow from the gallbladder to the kidneys is altered by the hormones that are released during pregnancy.

This will lead to an overabundance of the bile acid in the liver that will then start moving into the bloodstream, leading to itching across the body but no accompanying rash. This itching is normally the most severe in the hands and feet.

Home Remedies for Itchy legs at night without Rash

Proper Diet

A person should drink plenty of water or even get water from consuming of the juicy fruits, fruit juices or even the soups. Avoid consuming a great deal of a pineapple or mango as they can lead to itching to become severe. Increase the intake of leafy green vegetables and reduce on consuming fried, oily foods, fast food, eggs and red meat.

Moisturizing Cream

Use of a high quality moisturizer twice a day in the areas that are very itchy can assist to provide relief. Look for products that contain Cetaphil, CeraVe.

Anti-itch Cream/Lotion

Hydrocortisone creams are found in 1 percent doses over the counter. Using these to the skin may temporarily relieve the itching. You can also take an antihistamine to assist relieve the itchy skin.

No Scratching

While it might temporarily address the itchiness, you should avoid the urge to scratch your itchy skin as this can lead to damage. Trim the nails or wear gloves at night so as to reduce this risk.

Cold/Wet Compress

Covering areas that are very itchy using a dressing or bandage that is cool and wet so as to prevent scratching.

Cool Bath

Take a cool bath using a colloidal oatmeal, baking soda or even uncooked oatmeal to soothe the skin. Choose finely ground oatmeal products that are designed for use in the bathtub.

Oatmeal Bath

Fill the bathtub with water and add one cup of oatmeal to the water. Bathing in the mixture every other day can greatly improve itching symptoms.

Proper Clothing

Smooth, cotton clothing will be much less likely to avoid irritating the skin.

Itchy Shins and Lower Legs at Night

Itchy skin on the lower legs may be near torture. There are several possible causes. The doctor can assist to rule out several of them. You may require to see a dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment.

One of the most common is a condition known as xerosis, a term for very dry skin. It often happens on the lower legs. It is very common as you age as the skin becomes drier.

You cannot see signs of the skin being dry, but you can as well feel it. A clue to this condition is not having a rash before the itching starts. You might also develop red bumps, lines and also irritation from the scratching.

Home remedies to stop itchy legs at night

You can soothe and stop itchy legs during the night with home remedies and treatments. Baking soda, oatmeal, and even cool water can help relieve the itchy skin on your lower legs and shins. Here are a few natural remedies to try that will give you relief.

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is the most common home remedy for the itchy skin as well as the skin rashes. Baking soda has a soothing effect because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Also, it acts as a natural acid neutralizer that assists to relieve itching.

Add about one cup of baking soda to a bathtub that is filled with cool water. Stir it well to distribute the baking soda more thoroughly. Soak in the water for about an hour. Pat yourself dry instead of rubbing the skin using a towel. Do this once daily.

For a localized itching, prepare a paste by mixing of three tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of water. Use the paste on the affected areas and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Do this once daily.

Note that you should never use baking soda on a broken skin or open wounds.

2. Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal (oats ground into an extremely fine powder) assists to soothe and the comfort itchy skin. It has anti-irritating, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties that give instant relief from itching.

Add one to two cups of the colloidal oatmeal to a bathtub that is filled with lukewarm water.

Soak in the water for at least 20 minutes.

Never use hot water as it may irritate the skin more.

You can take the oatmeal bath up to three times a day, depending on the severity of the condition.

OR

Add a little water to one cup of colloidal oatmeal and leave it until it thickens to a paste-like consistency.

Use the mixture on the itchy skin, cover it using a cloth and leave it on for about half an hour.

Follow the remedy once daily.

If colloidal oatmeal is not found, you can apply unprocessed oat flour or whole oats that have been ground in a food processor.

3. Cool water remedy

The sensations of both the cold as well as the itching travel along the same nerve fibers in the body, so using cool water on the affected skin might bring instant relief from itchiness. There are several ways to apply cool water for itchy skin.

Run cool tap water over the affected skin for as long as necessary.

Rub an ice cube wrapped in a cloth over the affected area.

Apply a cold compress or cloth wet with cool water to the affected area.

1 COMMENT

Who wrote this?:
“A person should drink plenty of water or even get water from consuming of the juicy fruits, fruit juices or even the soups. Avoid consuming a great deal of a pineapple or mango as they can lead to itching to become severe. Increase the intake of leafy green vegetables and reduce on consuming fried, oily foods, fast food, eggs and red meat.”
Wow, these grammatical errors run throughout the article. Not proof-reading an article before posting makes the author appear uneducated and questions their competency.